Nearly two years ago I was diagnosed with Corornary Artery Spasms (Vasospastic Angina) and have managed it extremely well until last week when the spams returned with vengeance. They seem relentless and nothing I do seems to stop them. I suppose I’m really quite concerned and not sure what to do. I was also wondering if anyone else has had this problem and what they did to tackle it.
Thanks for reading .
B2020
I would contact your GP for a consultation. It could be that your medication requires adjustment to get this back under control.
Just to say severe coronary vasospasms can lead to a heart attack or arrthymias.
Hi MF, that's my worry . Having loads of spasms throughout the day , some big and some small. Very tired as a result and very scared . Can't explain the sudden change which is worrying. Its so annoying as I've managed so well up until last week when things changed
I hope you are managing to cope and as always thankyou for your advice and response.
B
I know it can feel so disheartening when the chest pain can appear again out of nowhere without rhyme or reason. It can be difficult to accept and give yourself permission to self care by slowing down and resting.
My experience is if my usual coping strategies don't work. The only way to break a cycle of persistent coronary vasospasms is IV GTN.
This is the advice of my Cardiologist too. I am able to email my Cardiologist for further advice when necessary.
Are you able to contact your Cardiologist?
I don't like going to hospital either, however I would suggest you consider having an ECG and your troponin blood levels checked.
Any sudden change in the pattern of your symptoms needs an medical review sooner rather than later. This may need a trip to A&E.
Hi MF, great advice . I'vejust seen my GP who told me.to book an ECG and bloods,but when i tried to book I was toldnit won't be till 10Nov. I told the receptionist that I got the impression that it was rather urgent,but she told me 'take it or leave it', so not helpful at all.
The GP said the outcome Moffat the these test will be discussed with my cardiologist ( not that I have one ) . GuessI have to sit it out and see what happens .
Like you I should prepare for the winter , which will be tough due to the current fuel. Crisis .
Thankyou for your good advice .
That wasn't particularly helpful.
I suggest you ring 111 for further advice. You need your troponin blood levels checked and ECG done urgently.
Vasospastic angina is a serious heart condition and I would advise you not to sit it out.
You also need to be under the care of a Cardiologist who understands the condition.
Ironically Glasgow has one of the world leading experts in vasospastic and microvascular angina.
i will contact 111 tomorrow and see what they say. The GP's don't take this condition seriously . I did ask for for cardiologist almost 2 yrs ago but told I didn't need one .
Sadly, I believe you are correct, your GP doesn't appreciate that Vasospastic angina is a serious heart condition, which requires the input of a Cardiologist.
The lack of knowledge about vasospastic angina amongst healthcare professionals and other heart patients doesn't help with living with the condition, either.
Would your GP be receptable to reading information from the BHF and other research articles?
If so, I would recommend these links.
bhf.org.uk/informationsuppo....
touchcardio.com/cardiovascu...
Do say how you get on.
Hi and thanks for your response. I have contacted my GP and will see what they say
Hi Battle 202
Sorry to hear your spasms have returned and they are more persistent.
Mine would come on for a few months then would go for a time then come back I had this problem for 8 yrs before being diagnosed in 2020 following an angiogram. Unfortunately mine have been persistent since Jan 2020 and so far been unable to tolerate diltiazem, Verapamil or more recently Ranolazine. The weather has a big impact for me, now that it's more autumnal I'm having to use my GTN spray a heck of a lot in a day (and it was pretty regular before!).
Be persistent with your GP as to the impact it is having on you and keep on at them, I recently got a referral to a different cardiologist who thinks I also have MVD but it was really refreshing just for him to understand and feel like l'd been listened to.
Sorry I can't be of more help but hope I've reassured you in the fact you are not alone. But be persistent in getting help.
Hoping things get sorted for you soon and let us know how you're getting on.
Hello Ninjanoo,
Have you been offered any formal testing for microvascular dysfunction?
Vasospastic angina has different causes to microvascular dysfunction and treatment options.
Many years ago, I saw a very prominent Cardiologist in London who didn't carry out the appropriate testing for vasospastic angina and misdiagnosed me. I asked for a second opinion elsewhere.
I was assumed to have microvascular dysfunction originally, even prescribed beta blockers which made my coronary vasospasms much worse. I ended up in hospital for 5 days.
I now know beta blockers are contraindicated if you live with vasospastic angina whilst they can help with microvascular dysfunction.
In the 10 years of living with vasospastic angina there has thank goodness been a sea change. More Cardiologists are now aware of microvascular dysfunction and vasospastic angina.
I hope you are able to work with your Cardiologist to find the best combination of medication that will work best for you.
HI Milkfairy,
Hope you are fairing OK with the change in the weather.
Awaiting MRI stress test but was given Ranolazine to take twice a day on a lower dose to start with before being switched to a higher dose. Unfortunately, after the first day on the lower dose found I'm allergic to those as well! 🙄
Yesterday evening and last night was bad I am so tired and worn out this morning. 😴 😔
Getting a phone call next week from GP with next steps as per cardiology letter she got as have to wait for body to settle down after taking antihistamines. Got a follow up with Prof Collins first week of Dec. So will see what transpires next
I am sorry that you are having difficulty tolerating your medication.
It doesn't help with reducing your stress levels!
I am getting ready for the winter. My layers of clothes back on.
My careplan updated. I met the Ward manager and Matron recently so everyone knows how to manage my in patient admission.
I am very well supported by my Cardiologist who I can email if necessary.
Have you thought about trying a Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, TENS machine? I used a TENS machine when I was in labour and the TENS with hot water bottles help me during a bad episode of angina.
The feeling of tiredness is exhausting!
Apologies just noticed a typo I did intend it to be Battle2020 not Battle202 - sorry!
HI,I'm really hoping it's not MVD as well. I was hoping that it was perhaps a change in the weather and perhaps the stress of moving house ,but not sure . It's just strange how things literally changed overnight . What's not helping is getting stressed about it , which I am doing. Got a GP appointment, but don't hold out a lot of hope as the GP's don't actually know anything about coronary artery spasms . Will let you know how it goes .
if your GP doesn't know much it might be an idea to push for referral back to cardiologist for a review - i know that not all GPs appreciate patients who know what they want, but sometimes it pays to be up-front and ask for what you feel you need
meanwhile maybe it's a good time to make sure you are gentle with yourself and try to escape the pressures of your impending move occasionally - you need relaxation time more than ever with that on the horizon
HI, thank you for your reply and good advice I will be asking for a referral I reckon.
I know that I have to destress but that's easier said than done..
mmm, i know - and i meant it as a sort of permission to give yourself some time out - sometimes we forget that we have to put ourselves first occasionally😊🌺
for sure . Thank you
As someone who has lived with Vasospastic angina for 10 years, is your advice from your own personal lived experience of vasospastic angina?
Those of us living with vasospastic angina walk a tight rope of self managing our symptoms with the knowledge that a severe prolonged coronary vasospasm can lead to a heart attack or arrthymias.
On occasions this means a trip to A&E.
is this an automatic comment? i feel we have been here before
If a person doesn't have a lived experience of vasospastic angina they could with the best intentions give inappropriate advice.
Perhaps, when giving advice, it would be more helpful to say you don't have a lived experience of vasospastic or microvascular angina. This would give context to your response.
I have made the sort of general suggestion anyone could make, regardless of experience - my comments are positive and supportive and the poster responded positively
please bear in mind that, despite not having "lived experience" of a condition, many of us have enough life experience to decide for ourselves when it is appropriate to offer support
However you don't know how it feels to experience a severe prolonged coronary vasospasm.
Nor how it feels to walk the tight rope safely.
Perhaps offer general support with the caveat that you don't have a lived experience of vasospastic angina?
if you feel my comment breaches any community standards may i suggest that you use the Report facility and and allow the moderators to deal with it
Here's some guidance from BHF Healthunlocked.
"We ask everyone to speak from their own experience, using terminology such as "in my experience…",
coronary artery spasm
Coronary artery spasm
Vasospastic Spasm (Coronary Artery Spasm)
